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Kitsap moving ahead on fast ferries

Kitsap voters have approved a fast ferries measure to create service between the peninsula and Seattle, and Kitsap Transit is in conversations with King County’s Marine Division as the service provider under contract.

Rich Passage 1 vessel (Kitsap Transit photo)

Kitsap Transit outlined next steps in an announcement: The agency said it has one fast ferry (Rich Passage 1), and will resume conversations with the Federal Transit Administration on grants for the fleet and start negotiating a partnership with King County Marine Division to operate the new service to Seattle. “We’re excited to work with King County Marine Division, which runs a thriving water-taxi service with a proven track record of performance,” Executive Director John Clauson said.

Per the Kitsap Sun: Kitsap Transit will start negotiating a partnership with King County Marine Division to provide staff to operate and maintain the vessels. With routes from West Seattle and Vashon Island to downtown Seattle, King County already has a framework in place. “We’re excited to work with King County Marine Division, which runs a thriving water-taxi service with a proven track record of performance,” Clauson told the Kitsap Sun.

Paul Brodeur, director of the marine division, congratulated Kitsap Transit on the election outcome. “That’s a good thing for the commuters,” he said of Bremerton riders. “They’re going to be able to reduce their trips by half the time. With future connections from Southworth and Kingston, the rest of the county is going to enjoy that direct downtown service they haven’t had.”